Algeria invests in its youth to boost human development and economic growth

Before its independence, 60 years ago, Algeria only counted a few hundred students at the Central University of Algiers. The institution was the only one in the country and it was French. Today, in its dozens of universities and research centers, Algeria counts over a million and a half students and many new challenges ahead.

Eradicate illiteracy

One of the priorities of the authorities after the country's independence was to eradicate the then massive illiteracy, estimated at 85% of the population in 1962. To do so it spread free and compulsory education in order to raise the literacy rate to over 81%. Among 15-25 year olds, it is now close to 100%.

Another priority has been to enable Algerians to take charge of the country's economic development. In 1974, the architect Oscar Niemeyer designed the Houari Boumediène University of Science and Technology in Algiers. More than one hundred thousand of its graduates now work in Algeria and around the world, to the pride of the rector.

"At the time, when the university opened, there were 2,000 students, says Djamal-Eddine Akretche, addid "For a long time, it had the role of training future managers. Now there are 50,000 students".

The rector of the Houari-Boumediene university of Science and technology (USTHB) also admits, back then there were very few women studying there. "Today, nearly 60% of the student body is female (....) But I remember that in the 1970s and 1980s, in technological and basic sciences, it did not exceed 10%".

"We talk a lot about entrepreneurship, start-ups, incubators... Our university has integrated these ideas, we started with a lot of interaction with the socio-economic sector and we are also challenging our students’ mindsets by telling them 'you must be